Monday, September 18, 2023

Chocolate Bread

 




On most mornings we have bread for breakfast as it is convenient. The type of bread depends on what I decide to bake in the morning or the night before. Usually sourdough, no knead ciabatta and focaccia breads take a longer time to prepare and bake so I have to do it a day earlier before we can enjoy them. Others require only 1 or 2 proofing and can be made on the day that we want to eat. 


Ingredients:
  • 640 g bread flour
  • 60 g cocoa powder
  • 120 g castor sugar
  • 2 tsp yeast
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 290 ml warm milk
  • 2 grade A eggs
  • 75 g butter
  • 100 g chocolate shavings
  • Topping - chocolate chips or any nuts

Method:

  • Put the bread flour, cocoa power, sugar, yeast and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer.
  • Turn on low speed to mix all the ingredients.
  • Add milk into the bowl.
  • Add in the eggs.
  • Knead the ingredients until the dough forms into a ball.
  • Add butter to the dough and continue to knead.
  • Knead the dough till window pane is achieved.
  • Grease a clean bowl.
  • Transfer the dough to the greased bowl.
  • Cover the bowl with a cling wrap and let the dough proof till it doubles in size.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size, transfer it to a slightly floured surface.
  • Punch down the dough and knead it by hand for another 5-10 minutes.
  • Shape the dough back into a dough.
  • Roll out the dough into a rectangle.
  • Spread the chocolate shavings onto the rectangle.
  • Roll up the dough according to the length of the bread pan. (I use a 9 inch x 4 inch x 4 inch bread pan.)
  • Cover the bread pan with a moist towel and let it proof a second time.
  • Pre-heat the oven at 175 deg C.
  • When the dough is ready to be baked, brush the top with some milk. Spread some chocolate chips or nuts on top.
  • Bake at 175 degrees Centigrade for 25 minutes.
  • When done, remove the pan from the oven immediately and the bread from the pan.
  • Wait for the bread to be cooled down before slicing it up.